Morning Cuppa Joy

Robyn DeLong

5.0 (1)
Personal Journals

Morning Cuppa Joy is a weekly reflection on being human — love, loss, curiosity, and everyday moments of grace. Written and read by Robyn DeLong, each episode invites listeners to focus on the beauty and love that surround us, and to notice the joy that bubbles up even in the midst of chaos. Each Cuppa is a gentle reminder to be grateful for the precious moments we’re given and the people we get to share them with.

3d ago

The Gift of Belonging

Send us Fan Mail What helps a child survive life's hardest seasons? A story about orphan trains led me down an unexpected path—through the childhood experiences of my grandparents, the beloved pages of Anne of Green Gables, and memories of my own family. As I reflected on children who have been displaced by loss, poverty, divorce, and circumstance, one truth kept emerging: every child needs to know they belong. This week's Cuppa Joy explores the lasting power of unconditional love and the people who help us find our way home. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

9 min
May 26

The Human Side of Artificial Intelligence

Send us Fan Mail As artificial intelligence grows smarter, what will help us remain deeply human? Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days—sparking excitement in some people and fear in others. In this week’s Cuppa Joy, I reflect on my own surprising journey with A.I.—from learning WordPress and podcasting to troubleshooting technology and even keeping my fishpond healthy. But alongside the convenience and wonder come deeper questions. How do we remain discerning in a world of deepfakes and misinformation? What happens if technology becomes so persuasive that we slowly surrender critical thinking and human connection? Along the way, I revisit HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, explore why some tech leaders are now emphasizing the importance of the humanities, and consider what qualities may matter most in an age of artificial intelligence. Perhaps the question is not whether machines will become more intelligent—but whether humans will remain deeply human. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

11 min
May 19

Our Freedom to Choose

Send us Fan Mail Even when life upends everything we’ve planned and hoped for, one freedom still remains—the freedom to choose our response. This week’s Cuppa Joy explores the layered concept of choice—not simple choices like chocolate or vanilla, but the deeper choices we face when life upends our plans and leaves us confronting circumstances we never would have chosen for ourselves. Inspired by the life and work of Holocaust survivor and psychologist Dr. Edith Eva Eger, along with the writings of Viktor Frankl, this episode reminds us of our power to choose our response even in life’s hardest moments. This episode is dedicated to Edith Eva Eger, whose wisdom continues to inspire courage, healing, and hope. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

10 min
May 12

The Heart of Teaching

Send us Fan Mail What if one of the greatest gifts a teacher gives isn’t knowledge, but words that shape a child’s heart for a lifetime? This week, I’ve been thinking about teachers—not just what they teach, but what they leave behind. A kind word. A moment of understanding. The courage to stand up for someone else. The reminder that our words matter. In this episode, I share the stories of three remarkable teachers whose lessons reached far beyond the classroom, and reflect on how words can wound, heal, and echo through a lifetime. It’s a reminder that some of the most important lessons children learn are not found in textbooks, but in how we treat one another—and ourselves. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

9 min
May 5

Not Just Wine Improves with Age

Send us Fan Mail There’s a subtle message most of us have absorbed about aging—that after a certain point (no one can say exactly when) it’s all a downhill slide. But what if that’s not the whole story? Maybe it’s not just wine that gets better with age. In this episode, I explore a new concept called “joyspan,” the depth and duration of joy we experience across our lives, and what it might look like to focus not just on how long we live, but how joyfully we live. I also share a small moment from my week—one that brought my mother to mind and reminded me of how much I appreciated learning from her even when she didn’t know she was teaching me. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

9 min
Apr 28

Beyond Museums

Send us Fan Mail We often think of art as something we visit—paintings on walls, music in concert halls. But what if art is something we live… something that helps us heal? In this episode, I explore the healing power of art—far beyond museums and galleries. From programs in prisons to journaling in classrooms, creativity helps people express emotion, discover meaning, and reconnect with themselves. Our narrow definitions of art—and the ways we measure intelligence—can lead many creative people to overlook their own gifts. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

8 min
Apr 21

Noticing the Beauty

Send us Fan Mail I first visited Alaska just days after the sudden loss of my son, Michael. In the midst of grief, I experienced a moment that has stayed with me ever since—a reminder to pay attention to the beauty all around us, even when life feels overwhelming. In this episode, I reflect on that moment, on the changes happening across our planet, and on the people who are choosing to care—from one man planting a forest in India to efforts to restore ancient trees in the heart of Detroit. It’s an invitation to notice what is right in front of us, to shift from despair to hope. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

7 min
Apr 14

Grandmas on the Move

Send us Fan Mail We never know what invitations and challenges life will bring us or how they might change us. In this episode, I share the story of Grandma Gatewood, who walked the Appalachian Trail alone at 67, and a journey of my own that began with a simple question—what if I said yes? It’s a reflection on resilience, becoming, and the quiet strength we discover when we keep going. If something in today’s Cuppa stirred a thought or a memory, sparked a question, or simply made you want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you. Write to me at robyn@delongteam.com

10 min

Morning Cuppa Joy is a weekly reflection on being human — love, loss, curiosity, and everyday moments of grace. Written and read by Robyn DeLong, each episode invites listeners to focus on the beauty and love that surround us, and to notice the joy that bubbles up even in the midst of chaos. Each Cuppa is a gentle reminder to be grateful for the precious moments we’re given and the people we get to share them with.

Creator

Robyn DeLong
Years Active

2K
Episodes

23
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Morning Cuppa Joy
Show Website

Morning Cuppa Joy